What if all melodies have been sung before?

 

Have All the Melodies Been Sung? A Musician's Existential Crisis

It was 2012, a time when my world revolved around music. My days were a beautiful mess of harmonies and rhythms, spent composing with the Compassion International Choir, the Impuhwe Choir, and a small band of friends I’d put together in Gisenyi Town. We were a passionate bunch, driven by a shared dream of creating something new and meaningful.

One day, while we were in the throes of creation—writing lyrics and humming to find that perfect melody—one of my friends paused and said, “Guys that tune sounds familiar. Let's keep thinking so we can come up with a completely new melody.”

A small debate erupted among us. To prove the point, some of us started humming familiar songs, a spontaneous chorus of well-known tunes filling the room. It was a fascinating moment—a glimpse into the collective musical memory we all shared. We eventually agreed to keep searching for a truly unique melody and, after much deliberation, settled on one we were proud of. We finished the song, bubbling with excitement and confidence.

The day came to introduce our masterpiece to the rest of the choir. We handed out the printed lyrics, a physical representation of our hard work. We sang the entire song for them, our voices full of passion. But as I prepared to teach them their parts, I noticed a strange disinterest on their faces. When I asked what was wrong, they told me the song didn't sound original; it was too similar to other songs they knew.

My heart sank. Had we been over-analyzing and over-searching, only to land on something that wasn’t even new?

This experience stuck with me. The question lingered: "What if all the melodies have been sung before?"

Years later, while listening to the legendary South African Gospel artist, the Queen herself, Rebecca Malope, I had a Deja vu moment. Her song “Umoyawam” sounded incredibly similar to “Moyo Wangu” by the Tanzanian Gospel icon Rose muhando. It made me wonder if Muhando had been influenced by Malope. It's a common thread in the musical world—artists influencing each other, weaving a shared tapestry of sound. 

https://youtu.be/gafcHWepDPE?si=llo3YCDo8L79_btK       https://youtu.be/XPcO3VuidFQ?si=4aNykpMjIW7vB-LX

Another song that comes to mind is the Kenyan hit “Taunet Nelel” by Emmy Kosgei. I've always found its rhythm and melody to be quite similar to “Mugomboti” by the late, great Brenda Fassie. Is it a coincidence, or is it a sign of a deeper, unspoken connection between artists across borders?

https://youtu.be/JB-OGtSEc64?si=Jj2CgByZ8GColeqv    https://youtu.be/kxu0-Bn_Osg?si=s4T-GaFQFYb0ayI

It makes you think about the creative process. Do you ever find yourself humming a familiar tune while trying to come up with a new one? Or do you intentionally blend popular tunes into your own compositions?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let me know in the comments below!